By the Campfire

St Mary’s loch which is the largest natural loch in the Scottish Borders and is situated between Selkirk and Moffat in the valley of the Yarrow Water. It is 5 kilometres long and 1 kilometre wide. Local legend had it that the loch has no bottom and is reputed to be the coldest loch in Scotland. The old Tibbie Shiels Inn (sadly now closed but camping is still available ) is located at the loch shore and is a good starting point for walking some of the Southern Upland Way with many good views over the loch and hills beyond.There is also a wonderful statue to local poet James Hogg. As a young man Hogg worked as a shepherd becoming interested in literature in his early twenties. He continued to publish regularly while maintaining a contentious relationship with the Edinburgh literati, including his friend and some-time mentor, Walter Scott.The views around the loch are breath-taking and with some fantastic weather there is no better place to stop, have a spot of lunch on the banks of the loch and listen to the sound of the buzzards overhead.